Containment structure assembly and method of fabricating same

ABSTRACT

A containment assembly creates a temporary barrier within an overall space defined in part by a first and second immoveable structure. The containment assembly includes a plurality of incompressible links removably secured together to divide the overall space into an uncontained space and a contained space. A flexible membrane is removably secured to the plurality of incompressible links to create a wall between the uncontained space and the contained space. A plurality of compressible links, each operatively disposed between the first immovable structure and the second immovable structure to complete the temporary barrier between the contained and uncontained spaces.

BACKGROUND ART

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to containment structures. More particularly, the invention relates to containment structures that are sealable between the floor, the ceiling and walls and are easily adjustable by extending or contracting self-locking parts so they can be adjusted to fit perfectly from floor to ceiling and/or from wall to wall to allow containment structure to be easily adapted to whatever size repair area is needed without causing damage to the finished surface of same.

2. Description of the Related Art

When buildings need to be repaired or renovated, a temporary structure may be built around the portion of the building being repaired or renovated (hereinafter referred to as a repair). The temporary structure is a containment structure that contains the debris, dust and mess that is created by performing the repair into a small location so that it does not affect or “contaminate” the rest of the room or building. This is particularly important when the repair includes the handling and removal of hazardous substances, such as asbestos, lead, and the like.

Two types of containment options are currently known to be available by persons who use containments. There are free standing containments, which are less available; and there are easily self adjustable poles that are not free standing, are not sturdy or easily movable which most companies use.

Containment structures include a skeletal structure that define temporary walls. Referring to FIG. 1, a typical containment structure of the prior art is generally indicated at 10. The containment structure 10 includes a skeletal structure 12 of polyvinylchloride (PVC) tubing and a number of plastic walls 14. An entryway may be closed via a zipper 16 and the plastic walls 14 are taped over the skeletal structure 12 and upon itself and/or each other using tape 18. Depending on the level of containment required or desired, the plastic walls 14 may be taped to the walls 20 of the building being repaired.

An issue with the use of a containment structure 10 in the prior art is that either the containment structure lacks the ability to contain the contaminants that are airborne and rise above the containment structure 10 or the containment structure 10 requires the fabrication of a ceiling (not shown). This adds to the cost of building a temporary structure and inhibits the use of the natural light that may be in the building.

Further to this issue, temporary containment structures have one of two issues. Containments built with expandable poles do not allow for easy fabrication of a ceiling, they are not sturdy nor self-standing. They cannot be easily moved without basically recreating the complete containment from scratch. They do not allow for the containment to be easily sealed to the immovable objects.

Containment systems built with non-expandable poles are self standing, but they are not expandable, so they cannot be sealed tightly to two diametrically opposed immovable objects. Also, they are difficult to disassemble.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A containment assembly creates a temporary barrier within an overall space defined in part by a first and second immoveable structure. The containment assembly includes a plurality of incompressible links removably secured together to divide the overall space into an uncontained space and a contained space. A flexible membrane is removably secured to the plurality of incompressible links to create a wall between the uncontained space and the contained space. A plurality of compressible links, each operatively disposed between the first immovable structure and the second immovable structure to complete the temporary barrier between the contained and uncontained spaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art containment structure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of an end of an incompressible link;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a C-sleeve used in one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of a second embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a side view of a portion of a third embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 2, a building 21 defines an overall space 22. The overall space 22 includes a floor 24, a first wall 26, a second wall 28 (shown through translucent plastic, which will be discussed subsequently), and a ceiling 30. By virtue of the invention, the overall space 22 is divided into a contained space 32 and an uncontained space 34. The contained space 32 and the uncontained space 34 make up the overall space 22, of which only a portion is shown in FIG. 2. Typically, a repair would be done within the contained space 32. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the contained space 32 may be created to protect the contained space 32 while a repair is being performed in the uncontained space 34.

A containment assembly is generally indicated at 40. The containment assembly creates a temporary barrier within the overall space 22, which is defined in part by first and second immovable structures. These first and second immovable structures may either be a floor 24, the walls 26, 28 and the ceiling 30. In some instances, an immovable structure may be an intermediate structure not contemplated in FIG. 2. In the example show in FIG. 2, the two immovable structures are the floor 24 and the ceiling 30.

The containment assembly 40 includes a plurality of incompressible links 42. The incompressible links 42 are typically PVC tubing. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that something other than PVC tubing may be used to create the plurality of incompressible links 42. The plurality of incompressible links 42 are removably secured together to divide the overall space into the uncontained space 34 and the contained space 32. One, two and three-dimensional connectors 44, 46, 48 are used to connect the incompressible links 42 together in a sealed fashion. Four and five way connectors can also be used.

A flexible membrane 50 covers the plurality of incompressible links 42 to create a wall between the contained space 32 and the uncontained space 34. The flexible membrane 50 may be a Visqueen or translucent material that is impervious to the transmission of air or particulates therethrough. In some instances, it may be desired to have the flexible membrane 50 be something other than light transparent or translucent. The flexible membrane 50 is secured to the plurality of incompressible links 42 by wrapping the flexible membrane 50 over a portion of the incompressible links 42 and securing the flexible membrane 50 either to itself or to one of the structures within the overall space 22. Typically, the flexible membrane 50 is adhered to itself or the walls 26, 28 the floor 24 or the ceiling 30 using a spray adhesive or tape.

The containment assembly also includes a plurality of compressible links 52. Each of the plurality of compressible links 52 is operatively disposed between the first immovable structure and the second immovable structure to complete the temporary barrier between the contained 32 and uncontained 34 spaces. More specifically, the compressible links 52 are used to create a tension within the containment assembly 40 between at least two of the immovable structures within the overall space 22. As stated above, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the two immovable structures are the floor 24 and the ceiling 30.

The plurality of compressible links 52 are schematically shown in FIG. 2 as having a compression spring 54 disposed between two inflexible members 56. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the compression aspect of the compression links 52 may be built into the material used to create the compression links 52 and may not require a compression spring 54 physically disposed in between two incompressible portions 56. In other words, the plurality of compression links 52 may be fabricated from a material that is inherently compressible to create the tension between the floor 24 and the ceiling 30. Furthermore a technology exists by where the two parts of 52 do not need a tension spring. Rather, the user forces them either expanded or contracted to the desired position and then twist locks them into place via a friction fit, which uses expandable self locking poles to hold plastic up (discussed subsequently).

By having a containment assembly 40 that is compressible between the two immovable structures within the building 20, the containment assembly 40 enhances the ability to contain the space 32 while reducing the amount of time need to fabricate the containment assembly 40. Furthermore, without expandable poles, it was previously impossible to create a compression “air tight” fitting between two opposing immovable structures with a solid frame (PVC) containment structure because once you inserted the last incompressible link into the last coupler and slid them together, you would be effectually shrinking the containment structure away from one or more of the opposing immovable structures. This is why the less stable, slower, non-movable expansion pole containment system has become vastly more popular that the solid frame containment system.

Referring to FIG. 3, a flexible spacer 70 is shown disposed between containment assembly 40 and the first and second immovable structures 24, 26, 28, 30 to create a seal between the containment assembly 40 and the first and second immovable structures 24, 26, 28, 30. The flexible spacer 70 may be flexible cushion, as is shown in FIG. 3, or it may be an inflatable balloon that is designed to extend between the containment assembly 40 and the immovable structures 24, 26, 28, 30. The flexible spacer 70 is useful when care must be taken to avoid damage to the immovable structures 24, 26, 28, 30. It is also useful when the immovable structures 24, 26, 28, 30 includes an uneven section (chair rail 72 in FIG. 3) or when they are not square so that the space between the containment structure 40 and the immovable structures 24, 26, 28, 30 can be more easily sealed.

Referring to FIG. 4, a perspective view partially cutaway of a PVC tube used as an incompressible link 42 is shown. The incompressible link 42 extends between a first end 60 and a second end (not shown). The end 60 of the incompressible link 42 includes two compression slits 62, 64 that are cut into the incompressible link 42 at the end 60. In one embodiment, the two compression slits 62, 64 extend into the incompressible links 52 and/or the compressible links 52 a distance less than two inches. Specifically, the slits are 1/16 less than the depth which the incompressible or compressible links 42 will be inserted into the coupler so that you achieve the maximum slide capability without creating a way for air and contaminates to get inside the incompressible 42 or compressible 52 links. The two compression slits 62, 64 are diametrically opposed to each other. The two compression slits 62, 64 allow a link 44, 46, 48 to be secured thereto over the end 60 of the compressible link 42 in a manner that will allow the link 44, 46, 48 to be removed from the incompressible link 42 in a relatively easy manner. More specifically, the compression slits 62, 64 introduce the ability for the containment assembly 40 to be assembled and disassembled in a manner that will save time and allow the pieces of the containment assembly 40 to be reused. If the design warrants, there may be more than two compression slits 62, 64.

Referring to FIG. 6, wherein like primed reference numerals represent similar elements to that of the first embodiment, the invention 40′, a second embodiment of the containment assembly 40′is shown. In place of the compression links 52 are the incompressible portions 56′. The compression springs 54 of the first embodiment are replaced with locking devices 54′. The plurality of locking devices 54′ are operatively connected between the first immovable structures 24 and the second immovable structure 30. The locking devices 54′ complete the temporary barrier between the contained 32 and uncontained 34 spaces. Each of the plurality of locking devices 54′ is disposed between two of the plurality of incompressible links 42′, 56′.

Referring to FIG. 7, one embodiment of one of the locking devices 54′ is shown partially cutaway. The locking device 54′ is a twisting lock mechanism and is used to lock one of the plurality of incompressible links 42′ to another incompressible link 56′. The locking device 54 prime includes a ramp 74 that extends out from an outer surface of the incompressible link 42′. The ramp 74 ends with a detents surface 76. A protrusion 78 secured to the inside portion of a second incompressible link 56′ is aligned with the ramp 74. As the incompressible links 42′, 56′ are twisted relative to each other, the protrusion 78 rides along the ramp 74 creating a friction fit between the two incompressible links 42′, 56′. The protrusion 78 may come to rest in the detent surface 76 allowing a tactile impression that the two incompressible links 42′, 56′ are locked together. This twisting locking mechanism 54′ works when one of the incompressible links 42′ telescopes within the other incompressible link 56′.

Referring to FIG. 8, a second embodiment of a locking mechanism 54″ is shown having a collar 80 that receives each of the incompressible links 42″, 56″. Attached to the collar 80 is a cam mechanism 82 that includes a cam surface, shown in phantom at 84. The cam mechanism defines a pivot 86 and a handle 88. As the handle 88 is pivoted about the pivot 86, the cam surface 84 of the cam mechanism 82 presses into and locks the incompressible link 42″ to the collar 80. In this embodiment, the collar 80 is fixedly secured to the other incompressible link 56″. In an embodiment not shown, this locking mechanism 54″ may include to cam mechanisms 82, one for each of the incompressible links 42″, 56″. This would allow the collar 80 to be movable with respect to each of the incompressible links 42″, 56″. In this embodiment, it is also contemplated that the incompressible link 42″ is telescoping Lee movable with respect to the incompressible link 56″. This would allow adjustment to the height of the containment assembly 40″ and allow the containment assembly to seal itself against the two immovable structures.

Referring to FIG. 5, a perspective view of a C-shaped sleeve is shown at 90. The C-shaped sleeve 90 may be used in place of adhesive to put secure the flexible membrane 52 the containment assembly 40. The C-shaped sleeve 90 would wrap around the incompressible links 42, 56 and secure the flexible membrane 50 thereto. An example of a C-shaped sleeve 90 that may be used is manufactured by Circo Innovations of Grass Valley, Calif.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described. 

We claim:
 1. A containment assembly for creating a temporary barrier within an overall space defined in part by first and second immovable structures, said containment assembly comprising: a plurality of incompressible links removably secured together to divide the overall space into an uncontained space and a contained space; a flexible membrane removably secured to said plurality of incompressible links to create a wall between the uncontained space and the contained space; and a plurality of compressible links, each operatively disposed between the first immovable structure and the second immovable structure to complete the temporary barrier between the contained and uncontained spaces.
 2. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 1 including an adhesive to secure said flexible membrane to itself over said plurality of incompressible and compressible links.
 3. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of the plurality of incompressible links is a tube fabricated from polyvinylchloride (PVC).
 4. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said PVC tubes includes an end with two compression slits therein to facilitate the separation of one incompressible link from another.
 5. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a flexible spacer disposed between said containment assembly and the first and second immovable structures to create a seal between said containment assembly and the first and second immovable structures.
 6. A containment assembly for creating a temporary barrier within an overall space defined in part by first and second immovable structures, said containment assembly comprising: a plurality of incompressible links removably secured together to divide the overall space into an uncontained space and a contained space; a flexible membrane removably secured to said plurality of incompressible links to create a wall between the uncontained space and the contained space; and a plurality of locking devices, each operatively disposed between the first immovable structure and the second immovable structure to complete the temporary barrier between the contained and uncontained spaces.
 7. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein each of the plurality of locking devices is disposed between two of the plurality of incompressible links.
 8. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 7 including an adhesive to secure said flexible membrane to itself over said plurality of incompressible and compressible links.
 9. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein each of the plurality of incompressible links is a tube fabricated from polyvinylchloride (PVC).
 10. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein each of said PVC tubes includes an end with two compression slits therein to facilitate the separation of one incompressible link from another.
 11. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 10 including a flexible spacer disposed between said containment assembly and the first and second immovable structures to create a seal between said containment assembly and the first and second immovable structures.
 12. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 7 including an elongated C-shaped sleeve engagable with said plurality of plurality of incompressible links to secure said flexible membrane to said plurality of incompressible links.
 13. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein each of said plurality of locking devices includes a twisting locking mechanism to lock one of said plurality of incompressible links to another of said plurality of incompressible links.
 14. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said twisting locking mechanism includes a ramp positioned coaxial with said plurality of incompressible links to which said twisting locking mechanism is attached.
 15. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said twisting locking mechanism includes a protrusion extending radially inwardly to ride along said ramp to create a friction lock between each of said plurality of incompressible links to which said twisting locking mechanism is attached.
 16. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said twisting locking mechanism is fixedly secured to one of said plurality of incompressible links and allows another of said incompressible links to move relative therethrough in a telescoping manner.
 17. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said each of said plurality of locking devices includes a cam surface to create a friction fit between one of said plurality of incompressible links with respect to another telescoping therethrough.
 18. A containment assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein each of said plurality of locking devices includes a handle fixedly secured to and extending out from said cam surface to rotate said cam surface about an axis to create or remove a friction locking force relative to said plurality of incompressible springs. 